No matter how much you want to move, parting with a home can be an emotionally difficult experience. Especially when buyers come in and start criticizing everything.
To a buyer, your living room is not the place where your baby took her first steps, it’s the room they can’t see through the carpet stains.
Every deal has give and take, but as a seller you get to set the starting point: Condition of the House. Think of your house as a car, how would you prepare your car to sell if you couldn’t just take it to a dealer and trade it in? Get your house clean and in at least reasonably good repair (unless, of course, it’s totaled).
If you want your house to sell quickly and for near (or above!) your asking price, then you might want to put a bit of extra work in before the house goes on the market.
DECLUTTER. DECLUTTER. DECLUTTER.
If we can’t see the house through the possessions, it’s going to take longer to sell or sell for a much lower price.
If you can’t bring yourself to actually get rid of things, just put them in storage. The main thing is to get them out of the house.
Stuffing everything in the closets or garage is only an okay solution, not a good one. People love closet space and big garages, those actually aren’t parts of your house that you want to hide behind a wall of boxes or junk.
Also, if you put your possessions in storage, you can feel easier about having people come look at your house. Obviously, we want to assume the best about people, but it’s still wise to be proactive about protecting your home and family.
REPAIR THINGS
If you are hoping that they won’t notice that thing over there, then they probably will. Especially if it’s water damage, mold, or something missing that really shouldn’t be missing. Faucets. Broken towel bars. Door knobs. Burners. Linoleum peeling off the floor. Screens.
UPDATES OPTIONAL
Everyone wants to know if they should upgrade their appliances, their floors, or their cabinets, in order to sell their house. Well, that depends. How old are your appliances? How nasty is the carpet? How chewed up is the hardwood? If these things are in terrible condition, you should probably consider that a repair. If they are in good condition…you might not need to make changes.
My question is: Why don’t you upgrade when you can enjoy the upgrades for a little while first?
This process can be very difficult, but your realtor should be able to help you prioritize and get your home ready for buyer’s critical eyes.
Properties on the Potomac, Inc. 